Nhlanhla Sizani, 24, appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Tuesday facing charges of fraud, alternative forgery and uttering after he was issued a summons in December.
Spokesman for the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (also known as the Hawks), Colonel Katlego Mogale, said Sizani provided false information and managed to obtain an escort from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“It was reported that during the 2021 local government elections, accused Sizani submitted a fraudulent letter bearing the UN insignia, requesting to accompany the SAPS to polling stations for the duration of the elections,” Mogale said.
“Sizani is said to have misrepresented himself as a UN ambassador/diplomat and was therefore escorted by the SAPS Diplomatic Police Unit to various polling stations as an observer,” she said.
“Through the investigation conducted by the Falcons into the Falcons’ crime against the state as part of the investigation into serious organized crimes, the United Nations confirmed that Al-Sizani was not an ambassador/diplomat or an observer, and no accompaniment was requested by them.”
Mogale said SAPS suffered actual financial loss as a result of this misrepresentation.
The case was postponed until next January 23 so that Al-Sizani could obtain legal representation. Islam Online
